Four civilians on ground also injured

The Kiran MK-II plane, which was part of the 'Sagar Pawan' aerobatic team participating in a display at the India aviation show, crashed into a three-storey building, Hyderabad Police Commissioner A K Khan said.

"So far one building is damaged. We have to see how many people were inside it..," he said.

Navy chief Nirmal Verma, who was in Bhopal, said the pilots had not ejected from the plane.

"So the possibility is either timewise there was a problem or they (the pilots) were making all efforts to ensure that damage is minimised to any civil area. They are no more," he said.

"The inputs that I have got is that about seven people are injured," he said, adding, "I have to wait for more information. It is premature for me to say what could have caused the crash at this stage."

An unanticipated disaster

Black smoke billowed from the building after the crash and firemen were seen at work. Fuel could also be seen dripping from the mangled remains of the aircraft.

The police, which reached the crash site, kept at bay a large crowd of onlookers which had gathered there and put a cordon around the area. One vehicle parked outside the building into which the plane went down was also damaged.

Image: Smoke billows out of the nearby area of Bowenpally where the plane crashed into a three-storeyed building Photograph: SnapsIndia

Building spilt wide open!

Formed in 2003, the Sagar Pawan team had last performed at the MiG 29K induction ceremony in Goa on February 19.

It is one of the only two naval aerobatic teams in the world along with the 'Blue Angels' of the American Navy and uses four Kiran Mk-II trainer aircraft based at the Indian Naval Air Station Hansa in Goa.

Image: The plane crashed into the three-storey building Photograph: SnapsIndia